One man was killed near Downtown Atlanta and 30 others were injured.[2] Two other deaths took place on March 15, in the northern Atlanta suburbs, from a second, larger round of severe weather and tornadoes. In total, 46 tornadoes were confirmed over the 24-hour period, from eastern Alabama to the Carolina coast, with most of the activity concentrated in the Metropolitan Atlanta area, the Central Savannah River Area and the Midlands of South Carolina.
Meteorological synopsis
Atlanta tornado event
Street level tornado track map of the Atlanta tornado (NWS Peachtree City, Georgia)Damage near Centennial Park.
In their 9:00 pm EDT outlook, the Storm Prediction Center issued a slight risk of severe weather across portions of the southern United States from Oklahoma to Georgia, with a 2% risk area for tornadoes for the Atlanta area.[3] A tornado warning was issued for Atlanta at 9:26 pm when the thunderstorm that caused the tornado was 6 miles (10 km) northwest of the downtown area, although no watches were in effect for the area due to the low probability and unusual isolated nature. The tornado moved to the southeast, which is unusual as most supercells have a strong northward component along (or ahead of) a cold front. It also was unusual because it was not associated with such a squall line at all, but was an independent supercell well ahead of the main storm system.[citation needed]
March 15 tornado event
Another tornado outbreak struck the southeast the following day. A moderate risk for severe storms was issued early in the morning, and maintained through the afternoon.[4] However, by mid afternoon, areas of east-central Georgia and central South Carolina were upgraded to a high risk of severe storms due to the tornado threat.[5][6]
An old, unoccupied house was destroyed. Several houses sustained roof and shingle damage, including two that had most of their roofs blown off. Several chicken houses were destroyed, and a number of barns and outbuildings were damaged. Hundreds of trees were downed; one destroyed a house trailer.[7]
The Appalachian School property sustained damage, several hundred trees were snapped or uprooted, and many chicken houses were damaged or destroyed. Many garages, sheds, and outbuildings were destroyed. At least 25 homes sustained major damage while dozens more sustained lesser damage. A mobile home was destroyed and several others were damaged, a few feed silos were tipped over and rolled, and hundreds of livestock were killed by flying debris.[10]
Metal roofing panels were torn from a barn, and half the roof was torn from a brick house. Two other homes and a barn also sustained structural damage. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted.[11]
2 deaths – A significant tornado began in Polk County, affecting 16 houses; 4 were destroyed (killing an occupant), 2 sustained major damage, 5 sustained minor damage, and 5 sustained even lesser damage. Several county outbuildings, barns, shops, vehicles, a motor home, a travel trailer, a dog kennel business, and several fences were heavily damaged. Hundreds of trees and power lines were downed, including several high tension power line support structures that were heavily impacted. Another 20 homes were impacted in Floyd County, with 10 destroyed (killing an occupant) and 10 affected insignificantly. Approximately 55 homes were affected in Bartow County, of which 6 were destroyed and 30 sustained minor damage. Taylorsville Elementary and Woodland High School sustained major damage, and some Georgia Power high transmission towers were toppled.[12][13][14]
Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, two homes sustained heavy roof damage, a boat dock was tossed 25 ft (8.3 yd), and power lines were downed.[20]
Many residences were heavily damaged, a few mobile homes sustained moderate damage, numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, and power lines were downed. Two people were injured.[21][22]
Several homes and mobiles homes sustained moderate damage, mainly in the form of partially torn off roofs. A building on a poultry farm had its entire roof ripped off as well.[25]
Numerous trees and power lines were downed. One house and one mobile home were severely damaged, a second mobile home was split in two by a fallen tree, and several other houses and mobile homes sustained minor damage.[27][28][29]
Many houses had portions of its their roofs ripped off, four mobile homes were destroyed, and numerous trees and power lines were downed. Two people were injured.[30]
A mobile home was severely damaged, farm irrigation equipment was rolled and twisted, and numerous trees and power lines were downed. Several other mobile homes sustained lesser damage.[33]
One mobile home was destroyed and several others sustained moderate damage. Numerous trees and power lines were downed. Two people were injured.[36][37]
Several mobile homes sustained severe damage while other houses had their roofs ripped off. Several outbuildings were damaged, a few barns collapsed, and numerous trees were downed.[38]
Several mobile homes were destroyed. Two businesses and a church were destroyed. Several other businesses, another church, and numerous homes were damaged. Numerous trees and power lines were downed.[41][42]
Many homes sustained extensive damage to their roofs and structures. A water tower had its top ripped off and deposited several hundred yards away.[44][45]
One house was destroyed while four others sustained major damage and seventy six others sustained minor damage. Nine mobile homes were completely destroyed, five mobile homes sustained major damage, and eight mobile homes sustained minor damage. Two businesses sustained major damage, thirteen barns and outbuildings were destroyed (and 3 others sustained major damage), and three people were injured.[46]
Numerous trees and power lines were downed. One home had its windows broken, siding severely damaged, and part of the roof ripped off. Several mobile homes sustained minor to moderate damage.[50]
Approximately 1,500 to 2,000 trees were snapped, two mobile homes were destroyed, a cell phone tower was toppled, and inflicted mainly minor roof damage to dozens of residences. Numerous power lines and power poles were downed, several barns, sheds, and outbuildings were destroyed, and an empty tractor trailer was overturned. One person was injured.[51]
One residence was destroyed and sixteen others sustained minor to moderate damage. One mobile home was destroyed and six others sustained minor to moderate damage. Seven buildings were destroyed, including a couple of three-layer deep brick buildings; eighteen others sustained minor to major damage.[55]
Eighteen homes were affected, of which fifteen sustained minor damage and three sustained major damage. Five mobile homes sustained minor damage while two sustained moderate damage. Ten businesses sustained minor damage, and an additional three sustained moderate damage. Trees were snapped.[58]
Roof panels were ripped from the canopy at Carters fast stop gas station, two mobile homes were damaged (with one shifted 5 ft (1.7 yd) off its foundation and the other having its windows and doors blown out), and a car was moved approximately 50 ft (17 yd).[59]
Two mobile homes sustained extensive damage, six mobile homes sustained moderate damage, and six mobile homes sustained minor damage. Large trees were snapped and uprooted. Seven people were injured.[60]
A large storage shed was severely damaged, several large trees were downed. Mount Zion Methodist Church sustained complete failure of its front porch and had a portion of the roof deck uplifted; its steeple was toppled and portions of the outer brick wall sustained severe damage as well.[61]
Three mobile homes were destroyed, three to four dozen residences were damaged, and fifteen high voltage transmission towers were toppled. Twenty vehicles were damaged or destroyed, and numerous outbuildings, sheds, and barns were destroyed. Six people were injured.[62]
A water cooling tower was destroyed and a second was damaged. Several buildings were damaged, two high voltage transmission towers were toppled, and several dozen trees were snapped or uprooted. Tractor trailer cargo containers were tossed up to 100 yd (91 m).[63]
CNN Center was severely damaged, including shattered windows. The Georgia World Congress Center also sustained serious damage, as was the Omni Hotel, especially the skywalk between the two hotel towers over Andrew Young International Boulevard. This complex alone lost 476 windows, making it necessary to close the south tower to guests. The facades of the Georgia Dome and a Philips Arena parking garage were damaged while hosting basketball games.[64]
Damage from inside the top of the Westin Peachtree, not easily visible from the ground
Two of the giant columns in Centennial Olympic Park were knocked down, and insulation was stuck in trees.[65] Trees on some other streets were blown completely down, despite being too early in spring to involve leaf drag. Glass was strewn across several streets, and Atlanta Police kept residents, hotel guests, and news crews away from buildings with falling glass, which continued to pose a danger into the night.[64] Cars in the area were also damaged, and hotel and office furniture was found scattered about.
The Ritz Carlton, Westin Peachtree Plaza, Georgia-Pacific Building, SunTrust Plaza (where more than 60 people had to be relocated out of their offices), Equitable Building, and Georgia State University also had windows blown out (300 at Equitable alone), as did The Tabernacle (a former church with stained glass that is now a concert venue). The windows of the Westin continued to fall for days after the tornado, forcing police to keep several city blocks and MARTA's Peachtree Center station closed to pedestrians. The Georgia World Congress Center also sustained flooding while hosting a JROTC event and the Hinman Dental Meeting; Fox Sports Net took footage of a staircase in the new section of the complex that looked like a fountain with water cascading down it. The annual Atlanta Home Show and all other events were cancelled for the weekend in the GWCC complex, as was the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day Parade scheduled for the next day. WRAS FM at Georgia State University was off the air for two days, though it was not stated whether its studio or tower sustained damage, or if this was due to security or safety concerns, or power outages. The historic Rialto Theatre at GSU also sustained roof damage, which caused water damage inside.
Tree uprooted in the Cabbagetown neighborhood, taking most of the yard with it.
Tornado damage on Marietta Street in front of CNN Center / Omni Hotel
In the nearby Cabbagetown area, a brickloft building (well known for the fire that occurred there in 1999, during its renovation from the Fulton Bag and Cotton Mills, in which the crane operator was rescued by helicopter during live TV news coverage) lost part of its roof, and part of the top (fifth) floor. Another building at The Stacks on Boulevard was damaged; search and rescue personnel were unable to enter, but everyone was accounted for by the management within a few hours.[66]
The Atlanta tornado severely damaged this Loft building
When the tornado hit, a SECtournament game between Mississippi State and Alabama which had just been sent into overtime minutes earlier by a shot from Mykal Riley, was in progress at the Georgia Dome and being broadcast live on television. The storm ripped panels from the exterior of the building and tore two holes in the roof of the Dome, causing insulation to fall and the scoreboard and catwalks suspended from the roof to sway; much of this was captured on camera, though the transmission from the arena was interrupted. Riley's shot was considered to have saved lives by keeping people safe inside the Georgia Dome. After a 64-minute delay, the game was completed, however the next scheduled game between Kentucky and Georgia was postponed.[67] The remainder of the tournament games were played at Alexander Memorial Coliseum on the campus of Georgia Tech, with spectators restricted to team and conference personnel, media, team bands, and families of players only due to the much smaller size of the alternate venue.[68] At the nearby Philips Arena, little disruption was noticed by the attendees during the game between the Hawks and the Los Angeles Clippers, even though damage occurred to the outside of the arena.[69]
Twenty-seven people were treated for injuries.[69] In addition, over 20 homes were completely destroyed.[70]
All of CNN's TV networks remained on the air, but there was damage to the glass roof of the CNN Center atrium, flooding part of the food court. Additionally, blown-out windows in the ground floor CNN.com newsroom and the fourth floor videotape library caused minor damage. Live news coverage of the aftermath was carried on CNN International, in turn simulcast domestically on CNN until 1 am EDT.[71] CNN resumed broadcasting from their main newsroom at 6 am EDT, showing several parts of the newsroom with computer stations covered with tarps, the damaged atrium of CNN Center, and staff using trash cans and buckets to collect dripping rainwater to the right of the anchor desk due to the damaged roof. When more storms moved in later in the day, the network was forced to move all Atlanta on-camera operations to the windowless CNN-I studio, while taped programming was shown for most of the day.[72]
At the time, it was the most expensive tornado in American history, in raw U.S. dollars, after the 1999 Oklahoma City tornado, costing a half-billion dollars.[76]
